Graduate Student Projects

Capstone Project: Engaging Museums

The museum capstone project serves as one of the focal points of the Graduate Certificate Program's two-term proseminar in museum history and theory. As students move from abstract thinking to concrete discussions of the challenges facing museums, the assignment focuses attention on addressing specific exhibition-related needs of local museums. Students work under the direction of program faculty and host museum staff to address a real life challenge currently being faced by the host institution.

Proposals developed by MSP graduate students are presented to the local museum community at the end of the academic year and students travel back to the museum hosts to make an on-site presentation as well. We extend our thanks to the many institutions acknowledged here for their generous support of the Museum Studies Program.

The Scope of History: Exhibiting Historical Science at the Detroit Observatory
Keeley Briggs, Molly McGuire, and Shannon Schmoll
Partner: Detroit Observatory
Liaison/Mentor: Karen Wight

Migrant Technologies: Documenting the Material Culture of Undocumented Border Crossing
Abigail Celis, Anna Topolska, and Alisha Wessler
Partner: Undocumented Migration Project
Liaison/Mentor: Jason De Leon

Bringing the Ancient World to Life at the Toledo Museum of Art: Generating Content for an In-gallery Digital Kiosk
Laura Alcantara, Sanam Arab, Jenny Kreiger, and Kayla Romberger
Partner: Toledo Museum of Art
Liaison/Mentor: Carolyn Putney